No Winter Session of Parliament this year; Budget session likely in January 2021: Centre

For first time since 1984, winter session of Parliament won't take place this year due to Coronavirus pandemic, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralh Joshi has confirmed. Responding to a query by Congress leer hir Ranjan Chowdhury, minister said in a letter that winter months are crucial for managing pandemic in view of rising cases in national capital. He also said that Government hopes to bring Budget session forward - most probably to January. 

Citing arrangements me by Centre to conduct Monsoon session amid pandemic, Joshi said, "Winter months are very crucial for managing pandemic because of recent spurt in cases during this period, particularly in Delhi." He ded, "I have informally contacted floor leers of various political parties and y have expressed ir concern over ongoing pandemic and opined of doing away with winter session." Putting forth Government's intent, he said, " govt is willing to have next session at earliest - It would be appropriate to have Budget session in January 2021, keeping in mind unprecedented situation created due to COVID-19."

RE | hir Ranjan writes to PM Modi about Subramanian Swamy's 'narrow' national anm appeal

Congress demands Winter Session

On December 2, Congress Lok Sabha leer hir Ranjan Chowdhury urged Speaker Om Birla to convene a short winter session of House to discuss several issues including farmers' agitation and preparation of COVID-19 vaccine. In a letter to Birla, Chowdhury, said that Winter Session of House be convened with all COVID-19 protocols in place to help people understand important issues country is facing at present. Listing issues like "economic slowdown, unemployment scenario, continuous stand-off along India-China border and unabated ceasefire violation along India-Pakistan border", Chowdhury said, "re is a need for a thorough and transparent debate/discussion on all above-mentioned important issues." 

Congress leer Manish Tewari h also demanded that winter session of Parliament be convened at earliest to debate various pressing issues facing country like ongoing farmers' protest against agriculture reform laws, Chinese aggression, and COVID-19 crisis. Lok Sabha MP from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab h said that parliamentarians owe it to country to le by example by not avoiding our duties because of COVID.

RE | Devendra Fadnavis hits out at MVA govt, raises questions over 2-day winter session

COVID precautions during Monsoon session 

Amid COVID pandemic, earlier, Monsoon session of Parliament took place and elaborate precaution guidelines were issued. All MPs were asked to undergo a COVID test and only those with a negative report were allowed to sit in session. security and secretarial staff in Parliament were also asked to take coronavirus tests before ir entry. While on first day of session, Lok Sabha sat from 9 AM to 1 PM, Rajya Sabha sat in evening at 3 PM. On rest of days, Rajya Sabha sat for four hours in morning and Lok Sabha in evening. chambers of both houses and galleries were used for each of session of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and big screens were put up to enable members to see proceedings all over Parliament.

DRDO provided multi-utility COVID-19 kits to all MPs. Each kit h 40 disposable masks, five N-95 masks, 20 bottles of sanitisers of 50 ml each, face shields, 40 pairs of gloves, a touch-free hook to open and close doors without touching m, herbal sanitation wipes and tea bags to enhance immunity.

Health Ministry h suggested that movement of Members of Parliament in chambers of both houses can be me unidirectional to avoid face-to-face interactions. Touchless sanitisers were kept at 40 different places within Parliament House complex, and emergency medical teams and ambulances were stationed. Question Hour during session was cancelled and Zero Hour was held for 30 minutes. However, session was called off early in both houses after many MPs tested positive.

RE | Convene winter session of Parliament at earliest: Congress leer Manish Tewari